National Republican., 1887-12-26
Hole Which Must be Deferred

When the poet sang about hope spring
ing eternal iu the humln breast he must
have had In view the Democratic boomers
who have for some time been trying to
close the political campaign OF eighty eigh,
before the close Of eighty.seven. IL would
be mighty triumph for them to be assured
that Mr.. Cleveland will be inaugurated one
year from next March, and hope has been
at work with their wits 10 that direction
with great energy.
Several obstacles have arisen 10 the path
OF Democratic hope. Mr.. ClevGland's free
trade blast has not fred the couutry's heart
as hope had Inspired them to expect. Mr..
Clevelands nomination is a certainty, be-
cause free trade and the Office machiner,
have decreed it. Therefore, there is NJ
escape from the un-Amerlcau side OF the
chief issue which the Democracy mus,
maintain. The Democratic line of cam.
pagn being thus plainly settled, and rather
dscoursging in itself, Democratic hope has
turned It's attention to setting up Republi.
can candidates against their man of destiny
and Withdrawing them or knocking them
out as the exigencies seemed to require.
First, they set up Mr.. Blaine and knocked
him out in their own minds by tue fall
elections. Certainly he was too weak to
compete even with Mr.. Cleveland on q
British platform. Hope seemed to be re-
vived great deal, at least, until the re.
turns were all in. Next, Gen. Sheridan was
nominated and quickly withdrawn by those
busy and maguaminous Democrats, because
they feared he was Ineligible. In rapid
succession they have informed the RepublI-
cans that they must not accept Judge
Gresham, Senator Harrison, Senator Haw-
ley, Senator Allison, Chauncey Dspew,
Gen. Fairchild, Gov. Foraker, or some one
OF several other candidates. In spirit of
cancellation and accommodation, the Re.
publcans have promptly accepted each aud
all OF these nominations, and wei.
coined campaign In which
their foes should nominate both tickets.
The willingness with which this situation
was accepted has had depressing effect
on the Democratic boomers. Democratic
hope was not itself again until each name
was drawn out, and an experiment made
upon another. The latest candidate thus
cans were as one man in readiness TO battle
with him in the lead, and it was necessary
to withdraw him promptly, aud with the
pomp and circumstance Of an "authorIta
tive' statement, which turns out to be as
false as all the rest.
And now, hoping against hope, the ad-
minIstration organ at the capital announces
that 1t is ready, like the honest miller,
known by the hair In the palm Of his hand,
to grind grist for any kind Of political com
bination- Democrats, Republicans, Mag
wumps, or Independents-in fact, 1t In
cludes everybody except Ireland, home
rule, an honest vote, and fair count.
The trouble with Democratic hope is that
II Is oyerworked and needs vacation Its
vision is fancifully obstructed by 80 many
Republican statesmen better equipped for
the Presidency than Democracy can fur
nlsh, and all dangerously available that 1t
struggles against Itself In the effort to be
rid OF them. With respect to statesman
ship, the two parties are situated about alike
as to the finances; the Republicans think
that, though asurplus may be troublesome
temporarily, 1t is preferable to a def
cheney, which Democracy naturally pro-
duCes,
The fact with which administration or
gans must finally struggle is, that the Re-
publicans will nominate for President